Perforating system



Sept 15, l953 R. F. MALLINA ET AL. 2,652,116

PERFORATING SYSTEM Filed llarch 9. 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet l AT Tom/Ey SPt- 15, 1953 R. F. MALLINA ET AL 2,552,116

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PERFORMING SYSTEM Sept. 15, 1953 Filed March 9. 1948 REMALL/NA INI/ENTOBSy JIMMELCK ga/ ATTORNEY Sept 15, 1953 R. F. MALLINA ETAL 2,652,116

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REMALL/NA /NVE/vo/ JM MEL /CK lIHII sept. 15, 1953 R. F! MALLINA ET AL PERFORATING SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 9. 1948 ATTORNEY Sept. l5, 1953 R. F. MALLINA ET AL PERFORATING SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 9, 1948 ./P. F. MALL/NA 3 Nm/TOPS' LMMEL/c/f XU/.L mg

A T TOR/VEV Patented Sept. 15, 1953 PERFORATIN G SYSTEM Rudolph F. Mallina, Hastings on Hudson, N. Y., and John M. Melick, Cresskill, N. J., assignors to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 9, 1948, Serial No. 13,898

4s Claims. (01.164-115) This invention relates to code perforating and sensing mechanisms of the type employed, for example, in automatic computing and billing systems wherein a primary recording medium, such Aas a code tape, is employed to record, in code,

data relating to a multiplicity of individual tems and in which data relating to any one specific item may be interspersed between data relating lto other specific items. More particularly, the invention relates to means for sorting code entries recorded in mixed-up fashion on a primary tape and causing them to be reproduced, in code, in a numerical sequence.

In such systems, data or entries of transactions or events relating to one specific item, are recorded, in code, on a continuous strip of code tape and are interspersed thereon between other data, or entires relating to other specific items.

record at particular times during the origination, `completion and termination of the telephone connections to which the entries pertain. The purpose `of such a record is to provide means whereby an individual record for each telephone line may be produced and subsequently utilized to produce a translated and computed charge record for each telephone line in a manner fully disclosed and described in the W. W. Carpenter et al. Patent 2,112,951, issued April 5, 1938. See,

also, patent to W. W. Carpenter et al. 2,268,203,

issued December 30, 1941.

The present invention, while relating to apparatus particularly suitable for use in such a system as is disclosed in any of the above-identified patents, deals primarily with means for enabling code entries recorded indiscriminately and in mixed-up fashion on a primary record, or tape, to be reproduced or repeated in an orderly sequence in accordance with numerical codes which correspond to specific items and, obviously, is applicable to other than the automatic telephone message accounting systems disclosed in the above-mentioned patents.

By way of illustration, the code entries recorded on the primary tape are illustrated as corresponding to multidigit numbers which may, but need not necessarily, correspond to telephone numbers. These entries which have been recorded indiscriminately on the primary tape may, through the organization of apparatus comprising a plurality of reperforators and a code reading or sensing device, be sorted in accordance with their numerical values and reproduced on, or transferred to, a plurality of individual tapes in numerical sequence in the respective tapes.

It is the object of this invention to simplify and otherwise improve code tape reperforators and readers, or sensing devices, which cooperate in effecting the selective transfer or reproduction, in numerical sequence, of code entries recorded indiscriminately, or in random fashion to or on a plurality of individual records or tapes.

In accordance with the present invention a plurality of reperforators are controlled directly and selectively by a single code tape reader, or sensing device, through means which function under control of the reader and in accordance with the digital patterns of the code tape entries encountered by the sensing fingers of the reader, to operate corresponding combinations of perforating levers of a selected reperforator for reproducing on its individual tape recording medium the code pattern of the reader tape. A feature of the invention resides in placing the feed stepping mechanism of the reader tape under control of the reperforator selecting mechanism.

More particularly, the invention provides for controlling the reader and the reperforator tape stepping mechanisms so that both stepping mechanisms are maintained inoperative unless the reperforator selecting mechanism performs its function properly.

Another feature of the invention comprises the preventing of operation of the reader and reperforator tape stepping mechanisms unless the proper number of reperforator levers are operated in the various code channels. The invention provides for maintaining said feed mechanisms inoperative if either more or less than the proper number of reperforator levers are actuated in any code channel of the selected reperforator.

In addition, the invention provides a novel electrical system for selecting a reperforator unit and conveying the code information from the reader tape thereto.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, with parts in vertical section, of a reader mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 1A is a front elevational view of the reader mechanism of Fig. l.

Fig. 1B is a detail view of a modified arrangement of reader contacts.

Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating a reperforator unit constructed in accordance with the invention, certain parts being omitted for clarity.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the reperforator unit of Fig. 2, including a code-checking mechanism.

Fig. 3A is a detail view showing a modification of the code-checking mechanism which may be employed in the reperforator.

Fig. 4 is a detail view, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3A and showing a reed-bank arrangement which may be employed in the code-checking mechanism of Fig. 3 or Fig. 3A.

Figs. 4A, 4B, and 4C, show different positions of the code-checking contact mechanism of Fig. 3A.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation, with parts in vertical section, showing the tape-stepping mechanism of a reperforator unit.

Figs. 5A, 5B, and 5C are detail views showing different positions of a portion of the reperforator tape-stepping mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevational View showing a portion of the perforating levers and associated parts in a reperforator unit.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing graphically the sequence of operations of the various elements of the reperforator and reader units.

Fig. 7A is a diagram showing portions of a reader and a reperforator unit, and including electrical connections therebetween.

Fig. 8 is a more detailed wiring diagram.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing five code-checking contacts of a reperforatcr, connected in series for controlling the reader and reperforator tapestepping mechanisms.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of a plurality of reperforators and their controlling reader.

Figs. l1 and l2 show fragmentary sections of a primary tape bearing typical code perforations; Fig. ll illustrates the single straight line arrangement of code perforations and Fig. l2 illustrates the two-line staggered arrangement of code perforations.

The reader yor sensing device Referring to Figs. 1 and 1A of the drawings, the reader unit is shown mounted in a suitable supporting frame comprising a base I and side walls II, I2. Banks of contact assemblies I3 are mounted on suitable insulating units I4 carried by brackets I which extend between said side walls. In the embodiment illustrated there are shown four of said brackets I5 (Fig. l), each of which brackets carries seven contact assemblies I3 (Fig. 1A). Thus there are twenty-eight contact assemblies I3 in the embodiment referred Each contact assembly I3 may (as shown in Fig. l) comprise a leaf spring I6 having a contact projection I1 thereon, adapted to cooperate with a contact projection I8 on an adjacent leaf spring I9. The leaf spring IS is tensioned against an arm 28 in the position shown in Fig. l, so that the contact projection I8 is normally out of en gagement with projection I1. rIhe elements IIS-2i) of the contact assemblies may, as shown,

Llo'

be mounted in the insulating units I4, whereby the contacts I1 and I8 of each assembly are insulated from each other, as well as from the supporting bracket I5.

Mounted in the side walls II, I2, below the respective brackets I5 are rods 2I, each of which has pivotally mounted thereon a plurality of levers 22, one for each of the contact leaf springs I6. Each lever 22 has at its upper end a projection 23 of insulating material which engages a corresponding leaf spring I8. Also, each of the levers 22 is engaged below its pivot rod by a spring 24 wound around said rod, as shown, and tending to rotate the lever counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. l. The levers of each bank are movable in slots 25 of suitable guide frames 26 which extend between the side walls I I and I2.

Swingably supported from the side wall I2 by one or more links 21 is an arm 28 carrying four bars 29, each of which extends along a corresponding bank of the levers 22. A lever I30, pivoted at 3I on the wall I2, has its upper end pivotally connected to the arm 28 by a pin 32. lEhe lower end of said lever 30 carries a roller 33 which engages a cam 34 on the main drive shaft 35v of the reader mechanism. Said roller 33 is maintained continually in Contact with said cam by a spring 36 which is connected at one end to an arm 38 of the lever 30 and at its other end to a rod 3E fastened to the side wall I2.

In the normal position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 1, the roller 33 engages a depressed portion or" the cam 34 so that the spring 36 and lever 30 maintain the arm 28 and bars 29 drawn rearwardly; whereby the levers 22 are prevented from actuating the contacts I1 into engagement with the associated contacts I8. In this position of the parts, the bars 29 hold the levers 22 in inactive position, against the action of the lever springs :23 which constantly urge the levers in a counterclockwise direction. The lever springs 24, because of the functions performed thereby are stronger than the leaf springs I6.

At the lowermost end, each lever 22 carries a wire 31 which extends into Contact with an interference pin 38. In the embodiment illustrated, twenty-eight of said interference pins are provided, one for each lever 22 and wire 31. vSaid interference pins 38 extend upwardly from leaf spring iingers 39 which are carried by arm 48. Said arm 4Q projects laterally from a vertical lever 4!. The latter is pivotally mounted at its upper end on a pin 42 on the side wall II, and carries at its lower end aroller 43 which engages a cam 44 on the drive shaft 35. A spring 45, con,- nected to the lever 4I, continually maintains the roller 43 in contact with said cam 44.

Projecting downwardly from the respective leaf springs 3B are reader or sensing fingers 46, each in alignment with a corresponding one of the interference pins 38. The twenty-eight reader fingers 45 overlie the reader tape 41 which passes over a rotatable drum 48, which may be provided with perforations Q9 as shown in Fig. l. v

The wires 31 extending from the lower ends of the levers 22 may be guided into proper alignment with the respective interference pins 38 by passing through openings in a bar 58 which is fastened to the side walls I I, I2. The pins 38 and their corresponding reader ngers 46 may be staggered alternately, as shown in Fig. 1, to provide two rows each having fourteen pins 38 and fourteen fingers 46. However, it will be apparent that., if desired, the pins and ngers may be arranged in a single row of twenty-eight.

As long as an interference pin 38 is in the path of a. wire 31, the corresponding lever 22 cannot be turned counter-clockwise by its spring 24, even though the arm 2B and cross bars 29 be operated by cam 34 to remove said cross bars from the paths of the levers.

The normal positions of the above-described reader elements at the end of a cycle of operation, are shown in Fig. 1.

During a cycle of operation of the reader drive shaft 35, said shaft is turned counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, under power supplied by any suitable motor (not shown). At the outset of the cycle, the high point of the cam 44 moves away from the roller 43, so that the spring 45 rocks the lever 4| clockwise. Thereupon all of the leaf spring elements 39 are moved downwardly, bringing the reader fingers against the tape 41. Those fingers 46 which are oppasite perforations in the tape 41 pass through said perforations, removing the corresponding interference pins 38 from the paths of the corresponding lever wires 31. Those fingers 46 which overlie unperforated portions of the tape 41 remain in contact with the surface of the tape, while the spring elements 39 which carry them are flexed as the lever 4| continues its clockwise swing; and the corresponding interference pins 38 remain in the paths of the corresponding lever wires 31.

When the lever 48 and reader fingers are actuated as above described, and while they remain in their actuated positions, the cam 34 actuates the lever 30 and shifts the frame 28 to the right in Fig. 1, withdrawing the cross rods 29 from the paths of movement of the levers 22. Thereupon,

'corresponding to reader ngers which enter perforations in the tape 41 are operated to close the corresponding contacts |1-|8. 'I'hus the contacts |1-I8 'are closed in those contact assemblies which correspond to the reader ilngers which enter the tape perforations.

' As previously noted, the drum 48 may have perforations 49 into which the reader fingers may enter after passing through perforations in the tape. Specically, the surface of the drum may be perforated to provide, in each position to which the drum is turned, as many perforations as there are reader ngers, i. e., twenty-eight in the present instance.

The code system employed may be substantially the same as that illustrated in the application of R. F. Mallina, Serial No. 635,355, led December 15, 1945, now Patent 2,576,844 granted November 2'1, 1951, in which each digital pattern of a code entry on the record tape is made up of two perforations out of a fixed pattern of ve. Assuming a code number to consist of five digits, the entry on the tape is considered to consist of five channels each allocated to one digit of the vedigit number. Each digit, as previously noted, is characterized by two perforations out of a xed pattern of five so that each of the possible digits, 1 to 9 and zero, can be represented by two perforations spaced differently across the channel allocated to a digit, as shown in Fig. l1. Thus, in the present embodiment, twenty-five of the klingers 46 and Vlevers 22 maybe considered as divided into ve groups of five each, said groups corresponding to units, tens, hundreds, etc. of the digital channels or orders. The remaining three ngers 46 and levers 22 may be used for certain control purposes, as is well understood in the art, and need not be further discussed.

When the reader fingers 46 are alternately staggered as shown in Fig. l, the perforations in the drum 48 for each position of the latter are correspondingly staggered to lie directly opposite said ngers. The code pattern is then the same as illustrated in the above-mentioned Mallina application, except that alternate holes are staggered, as shown in Fig. l2. For instance the iixed code pattern for each digital channel may then comprise five perforations, with the first, third, and fth in one row, and the second andfourth in another row. When, on the other hand, all of the reader ngers 46 are in a single row, the code pattern perforations for each channel will also be in a single row as shown in said Mallina application.

When the reader fingers corresponding to tape perforations for a given code entry have passed into said perforations, the corresponding levers 22 are operated and contacts |1-|6 are closed in the corresponding contact assemblies as above set forth. Thereupon certain operations take place in the reperforator units which will be presently pointed out.

The reader tape drum 48 is rotatably stepped to successive positions by mechanism which may comprise a ratchet wheel 5|, secured to the drum 48, the teeth of which wheel are adapted to be engaged by a pawl 52. ISaid pawl is carried by a leaf spring 53 fastened to an end of an arm 54 of a bell crank lever 55, pivoted on a pin 56 on the side wall |2. The lower arm 51 of said lever carries a roller 58 engaging a cam 59 on the drive shaft 35. A spring 60 maintains the roller 58 in contact with said cam 59, for which purpose said spring may be connected at one end to a stationary lug 6I projecting from a bracket 1| and at its opposite end to an arm 62 rotatable with the lever 55. Said arm 62 may conveniently be fastened to a sleeve 63, secured to the lever 55 and rotatable therewith on the pin 56.

Secured to the drum 48 adjacent the ratchet Wheel 5| is a toothed wheel 65, normally engaged by a tooth 66 on an arm 61 integral with or secured to an armature 68 of an electromagnet 69. Said arm and armature assembly is pivotally mounted in any suitable manner, as for instance through pivot 15 on a frame or bracket 1| of the electromagnet 59. Said arm 61 may be held in engagement with the toothed wheel 65 either by its weight on the right-hand side of the pivot 10 (Fig. l), or by a suitable spring, as will be apparent. In that position of the parts, the armature 68 lies in the path of a lug 12 on the bell crank lever arm 51, preventing saidarm from rising under the action of the spring 65 as the high portion of the cam 59 moves away from the roller 58.

The electroinagnet 65 is energized near the end of the operating cycle, through means hereinafter described. When said electroniagnet is energized it attracts the armature 68, removing the latter from the path of the lug 12 and also operating the arm 61 to Withdraw tooth 66 from engagement with the Wheel 65. Then, as the high portion of the cam 59 moves away from the roller 58, the lever arm 51 is operated by its spring 60, bringing the pawl 52 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 5| and turnwithdrawn.

ins, SaidV wheel to rotate the -drum 43 through one step. The tape 41 is thereby advanced to brin-g the next code entry beneath the reader .fingers 46. At the end of the cycle the electromagnet 69 is deenergized, and in the ensuing cycle of rotation of the cam 59 the high portion of said cam acts upon the roller 58 to restore the lever arm 5l to its normal position (Fig. l), withdrawing the pawl 52 from engagement With ratchet wheel 5|. As the armature 68 of the deenergized step magnet ts returns to its normal (Fig. l) position, above the lug on .the lever arm 5T, the tooth on the arm -reengages the toothed wheel 65.

A spring detent 15, supported at its upper end in any suitable manner from the reader frame work, extends at its lower end into engagement with the ratchet Wheel l5| to prevent said ratchet Wheel from turning backward when pawl 5i is Wheel 65 it positively locks the reader drum in .undue tension of the reader tape reeling mechanism. The latter may be of conventional type and is not shown, it being weil understood that the tape passes from the drum d3 to a suitable storage reel.

It will be noted further that in the above-described embodiment, the reader drum cannot be advanced while the electromagnet es is deenei1m gized. Energization of said magnet is a p requisite to operation of said drum.. Thos latter cannot be advanced during a c failure.

The reader may cooperate with ten repo-rfcm rators as indicated by Fig. 10 to select individual reperforators in accordance with digits of the numbers .represented by the code perforations on the reader tape, and to .reproduce on the tapes of the selected reperforators the code perforations appearing on the reader tape.. As in the aforementioned Mallina application, the ten reperforators correspond to the digits l to d and Zero, and their selection is under the control of digits in the numbers on the reader tape. Also, the reperforators in the present system are electrically selected and controlled, and involve various features not present in the reperforators of said pending application.

It will be understood that, if desired, certain of the code'information on the reader tape may be transformed into other information by relays, in Well-known manner, before transmission to reperforators, or may be omitted. For instance, the starting times of calls on a reader tape may be subtracted by relays from the completion times to give the call durations, which may then be sent to reperforators. Also, code information on the reader tape as to unanswered calls may be excluded from transmission. Relay systems for accomplishing these ends are Well understood in the art and may be employed in conjunction with the reader tape entries, if desired, to alter correspondingly the transmission of information to the reperforators. To illustrate the operation of the invention, however, it will sufiice to consider the direct transmission of code information from the reader tape to different reperforators.

The repcrforator An embodiment of a reperforator unit adapted forf'use in the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 2 6, and may be constructed as follows:

Each reperforator unit includes twenty-eight code magnets 83 (Figs. 2 and 6) each corresponding to one of the reader ngers 46. In Fig. 6,

a bank of seven code magnets is shown, in conjunction with cooperating elements. As illustrated in Fig. 2, four of said banks, designated I, 2, 3, and 4 may be arranged in the reperforator unit, providing a total of twenty-eight code may nets. Thus, in Fig. 2, the bank I containsseven code magnets, designated 861, while the seven magnets in bank 2 are designated 802. Each of the other banks likewise contains seven code magnets. For convenience, certain of the code magnets in each bank may be staggered with respect to others, as illustrated.

Each code magnet 8U has an armature 8| which normally acts as a latch, restraining from movement a corresponding reperiorator lever 62. Each of said levers v82 extends from a corresponding one of a series of hubs 33, iournaled on `a shaft 8d extending between side walls 85 and S6 of the reperforator unit framework. Each hub 33 also carries an arm Si' provided with a pin 88 (Figs. 2, 3) for perforating a tape 89 passing over the reperforator drum 9.6 (Figs. 3 and (i). The pins of alternate reperforator arm 8? may be staggered, in correspondence with the .alternately staggered reader pins 416, so that the same pattern appearing on the reader tape is reproduced on the reperforator tape.

Each reperforator arm is movable in a corresponding slot in a stationary comb-like member 9|, while other arms 92, S3, extending from the hub 83 are also movable in slots of stationary comb-like members 94, vQ5; whereby the arm assembly is guided during rotation with said hub, and the pin 88 is maintained accurately over the proper portion of the reperforator tape.

In the normal position of the parts, all of the arms si ci' the reperforator unit rest upon a frame comprising a cross bar 95 carried by a pair of side arms 9i, 98 (Figs. 2 and 6), which are pivotally mounted on the shaft 84. Arms S9, S9, extending from said side arms carry rollers |60, is@ which engage came |l| ill, on a suitable drive shaft. As indicated in Fig.. 6, each of said arms 99 may have connected thereto a spring |63 for maintaining the roller Ido in constant contact with the cam le i. If desired, each reperforator unit may have a separate drive shaft, driven at constant speed in unison with the drive shafts of the reader and the other reperforators. Alternatively, the drive shaft 35 of the reader may extend not only through the reader but also through the ten reperforator units. In the present systemthe same drive shaft 35 is illustrated for both the reader and the reperforators.

Normally, the'movable reperforator frame comprising the bar 56 and side arms 91, 98 is prevented from operation by latches |64, |94, formed as armatures of electromagnets |05, 65, and engaging the side arms Si, 98, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The magnets |35, |65, are termed select magnets, since their energisation is essential to operation of the reperforator unit. Until they are energized, none of the reperforator levers 81 can move downwardly to effect perforation of the tape on the drum 98, even though code magnets E5 be energized.

As long as a code magnet is deenergized, its armature 8| is maintained by a spring 8| in latching engagement with the arm 32 of the rotatable arm assembly, thus precluding operation of the corresponding arm 81 to perforate the tape, even though the cross bar 96 and arms Gl, 98 are moved downwardly. However, energizetion of any code magnet 80, in response to closing of the corresponding reader contacts |-|18, removes its armature 8| from engagement with the corresponding arm 82. Then, if the select magnets of the reperforator unit are energized, the springs |03 draw the arms 91, 98 and cross bar 96 downwardly during the rotation of the cams IUI and drive shaft 35, so that those levers 81 which have been released by energized code magnets '80 in said reperforator unit are moved downwardly by springs |06, to perforate the tape of said unit in exact accordance with the perforations of the reader tape engaged by the ngers 46.

Following the perforating of the 'tape 89 by the released lever arms 81, the cross bar 9d is moved upwardly to its normal position by the cams I I, restoring said lever arms to their normal upward position. Also, following said perforating of said tape, the drum 90 is advanced one step to bring a fresh portion of the tape beneath the perforat- Ing pins 88. The stepping mechanism for the drum may be constructcl as follows.

Secured to the drum shaft 90' (Fig. 3) is a ratchet wheel I II) (Figs. 2, 3, and 5). Engageable with said ratchet wheel is a pawl III (Figs. 2 and 5), mounted on a leaf spring I|2 (Fig. 5)

carried by a rock arm II3. The latter is pivoted at ||4 (Figs. 3, 5, and 7) and is continually urged by a spring II5 in a direction for engaging said pawl |I| with said ratchet wheel IIB. Normally said pawl is disengaged from said ratchet wheel. A spring detent IIII, supported at its upper end in any suitable manner on the reperforator framework, extends at its lower end into engagement with ratchet wheel II!! to prevent said ratchet Wheel from turning backward when pawl I|I is withdrawn.

Mounted for pivotal movement about the same axis as the arm I I3 is a bell crank lever i I5 comprising an arm` II1, carrying a roller I I1 which engages a cam IIB on the drive shaft 35. Another arm I IS of said bell crank lever has a laterally extended end portion which lies adjacent to lug I2I projecting laterally from an intermediate portion of the rock arm II3. As shown in Figs. 5A-5C, the lug I2I has a notch |22 in its lower edge, while the lateral extension |20 of the arm IIS has in its upper edge a notch |23 lying below the aforementioned notch |22. Movable within the notch I 23 is a resilient finger |24 which projects from the armature |25 of an electromagnet |26. The latter may be termed the reperforator step magnet.

The roller II1 of the bell crank lever |I6 is continually maintained in engagement with the periphery of the cam IIB, through the action of a spring |21 adjacent the spring I|5 and connected to a pin |28 on the arm ||9 of said bell crank lever. During each cycle of rotation of the drive shaft 35, the lever arm IIS is rocked upwardly, carrying with it the nger |24 of the armature |25. However, no motion is imparted to the drum stepping arm I I3 unless the electromagnet |26 is energized as an incident to the selection of the reperforator. Thus, while the lever arms I|9 of all ten reperforators are raised inkunison during rotation of the cams IIB on the drive shaft 35, only the arm II3 of the selected reperforator will be operated, and only in that reperforator will the reperforator drum 90 and tape |19 be advanced.

When the stepping magnet |26 is deenergized, a spring |25 (Figs. 2 and 5) holds the armature |25 and finger |24 in such position that no motionis transmitted from the lever arm |I9 to the arm II3. Said finger |24 at such times lies in the notch |23 in the position shown in Fig.

5C, directly beneath the notch |22, so that raising of the arm I|9 will simply carry said finger |24 into said notch |22 without transmitting any motion to the lug |2I or to the arm II3 from which said lug extends. When, however, the magnet |25 is energized, its armature is attracted and the finger |24 is shifted in the notch |23 to the position shown in Fig. 5A, wherein said finger is removed from registry with the notch |22 and lies directly below the portion |29 of the lug I2 I. IThen, when the arm I I9 moves upwardly, said iinger |24 engages said portion |29 of the lug |22, carrying upwardly said lug (Fig. 5B) together with the rock arm I I3, and raising the pawl III with respect to the ratchet wheel IIE as a preliminary to advancing said ratchet wheel. concurrently with the raising of the arm II3, an arm |30 integral therewith is moved upwardly to bring its tooth I3I into engagement with a toothed wheel ST2 secured to the drum 9|), thereby positively preventing rotation of the drum by any torque applied to the tape by the takeup reel. The latter (not shown) may be of any desired type. It will, of course, be understood that in each of the reperforators the tape passes from a suitable supply source over the drum and thence to a take-up or storage reel.

As the high portion of the cam ||8 recedes from the roller III' during the rotation of the drive shaft 35 the arm IIS descends under the action of its spring |21, and likewise the arms I I3 and |30 descend under the action of the spring II5. During said descent of said arms II3 and |30, the tooth I 3| is withdrawn from engagement with wheel |32, and the pawl III engages the ratchet wheel Ilo and advances the latter one step, together with the drum and tape 89. At the end of its downward stroke, the pawl I I rests against a stop |33 (Fig. 5), which stop prevents further descent of said pawl and of the arm II3. The lever arm I I9, however, moves further downwardly, sufficiently to permit the nger |24 to be retracted to the position shown in Fig. 5C, the stepping magnet |26 being in the meantime deenergized.

The advancing of the drum 90 is, of course, timed to take place in an appropriate portion of the cycle of operation of the drive shaft 35, as will be hereinafter more specifically noted.

Selection of reperforators As previously noted, twenty-live of the reader fingers 46 may be considered as divided into live groups of ve each, said groups corresponding to units, tens, hundreds, etc. of the digital channels or orders of the code entries on the reader tape. Each digit, as previously indicated, is characterized by two perforations out of a xed pattern of five, so that each of the possible digits 1 to 9 and zero can be represented by two perforations spaced differently across the channel allocated to a digit.

The operation of each of the ten reperforators is determined by said digits 1 to 9 and zero in the controlling digital channel. Thus when the controlling digit of a code entry on the reader tape is zero, the zero reperforator will be selected for operation; the No. 1 reperforator will be selected when the controlling digit of the reader code entry is 1; and so on. The code entries on the reader tape are furthermore first to be sorted under control of the units channel, and subsequently in the tens, hundreds, etc. channels successively.

For accomplishing the foregoing purposes the ace-aile l1 select magnets |85 of the reperforators may be coordinated with the reader contacts as illustrated in Fig. 8. In that figure, the select magnets |85 are designated O, l, 2, 8, 4, 5, 6, '7, 8, and 9 respectively, corresponding to the ten different reperforator units. While in the reperforator unit hereinbefore described two select magnets are shown (Fig. 2) one for each arm 81, 8S of the frame which controls the rcperiorator arms 81, only one select magnet is shown for each reper forator unit in Fig. 8 to avoid unnecessary cornplication of wiring. It will of course be under stood that only one select magnet need be employed for the reperforator arm controlling frame in each reperforator, and that, if two be utilized, they may simply be connected in the same circuit, either in parallel or in series.

The selection of reperforator units may, as shown in Fig. 8, be eiiected through iive relays Mii-14151, which may be termed select relays. These are controlled from the reader contacts.

In Fig. 8, the twentyniive pairs of reader contacts i1, I8 assigned to code number digits are shown. Each of said pairs is connected for closing circuits through corresponding code magnets 80 in the respective reperforators. For instance, in said Fig. 8 one of the code magnets 88 of a reperforator unit is shown connected to one of the reader contacts I8. Upon engagement of that contact by the adjacent contact i1, a circuit is closed through said code magnet as follows: From battery |45, through wire |88, contact i1, contact I8, wire |41, the winding of code magnet 8|), wire |48 to ground, and thence to battery |45. Said code magnet is thus energized and attracts its armature 8|, releasing the corresponding reperforator arm 82 (Fig. 8). At the same time, in the nine other reperforaters the code magnets connected to the aforementioned pair of closed contacts |1|8 are energized, releasing the associated reperforator arms. In short, each of the twenty-iive pairs of reader contacts assigned to a code number digit is connected to ten code magnets, in the respective reperforators, to energize said code magnets when the pair of reader contacts is closed. To avoid unnecessary confusion in Fig. 8, only one code magnet is shown.

Each contact controlling lever 22 in the reader mechanism may close not only a pair ci contacts I'I-IS as hereinbefore described, but also a further pair of contacts I1'|8 (Figs. 1B and 8). Thus, as shown in Fig. 1B, each reader Contact assembly may comprise not only the contacts |1-|8, but also a contact I1 on a leaf spring |6 joined to the leaf spring i6 by a link |50 of insulating material.- Adjacent the contact I1 of the assembly is aA contact I8 on a leaf spring I9', normally held out of engagement with contact l1 by a blade or arm The various elements of each assembly are mounted in an insulating unit I4 (Fig. 1B) whereby they are insulated from each other as well as from the supporting bracket I5 to which said unit is attached. It will be seen that with this arrangement, the counter-clockwise rotation of any of the reader levers 22, in response to engagement of the corresponding iinger 46 with a perforation of the reader tape, will move contact I1 of the associated contact assembly into engagement with contact i8 and will also move contact I1 into engagement with contact E8. Upon reverse rotation of said lever 22 to its normal unoperated position, the contacts l1, I1 aforementioned v'ill be separated from the respective contacts by the return to normal position of the respective leaf springs I8, I8.

rIhus, as shown in Figl 8, each of the twenty;- ve pairs of contacts |1-|8 assigned to code number digits is associated with a pair of con-v currently operated contacts |1-I8'. In the Fig. 8 wiring diagram the twenty-five contact assem-v blies (each comprising a pair of contacts |1-I8 and I1-|8) are shown divided into ve rows or banks designated B, C, D, E, and F respectively, and each containing five of said contact assen blies. Said five banks may be considered as corresponding to the aforementioned channels o'r orders (units, tens, hundreds, etc.) of the code entries.

Five contacts I1 first are connected to the select relay |48, five other contacts I1 (second in each bank) to the select relay |4I, and so on. Thus, in Fig. 8, the contacts I1 in the rst or left-hand vertical row of contact assemblies in the banks B-F are connected to wire |52 to which the winding of the select relay |40 is connected. Similarly, the contacts I1 in the second vertical row of said assemblies are connected through wire |53 to select relay I4|, the third vertical row of contacts I1 to select relay |42 through wire 15e, the fourth row through wire |55 to select relay |43, and the fifth row through wire |58 to select relay |44. The windings of said relays la-|44 are also connected, through the respective wires IEP-ISI, to the aforementioned wire |48 which is connected to battery |45.

A grounded contact selector arm |62 is movable into engagement with any desired one of a group of contacts IBS-|81. Wires IBS-|12 are connected to the respective contacts |63w|61 and also to contacts I8 in the respective banks B-F. Wire |68, as shown, is connected to all of the contacts iS, in bank B, wire |59 to all contacts I8 in bank C, and so on.

The selector arm |62 is movable manually into engagement with the desired one of the contacts IGS-|61 to select the desired channel or denominational order which is to control the selection of reperforators. As long as said arm |62 is in engagement with contact |63, the reader tape digits in the units channel (channel B) will control the reperforator selection. Similarly when said arm |62 is in engagement with any of the other contacts |64-I61 the reader code entry digits in the corresponding channel will determine what reperforators shall be selected'.

It has been previously noted that when the reader contacts I1|8 at the right-hand end of the bank B are closed, the code magnet shown in Fig. 8 is energized from battery |45 by Way of wire |46, said closed contacts |1-|8, and wire |41. At this point, it may be observed that said wire |46, is connected to all of the reader con tacts I1, in groups of iive in parallel. Thus, a wire |14 connects said wire |46 to all of the contacts I1 in bank B in Fig. 8; Wire |15 connects wire |45 to all of contacts l1 in bank C; while wires |16, |11 and |18, respectively, connect said Wire |46 to contacts I1 in the respective banks D, E and F.

Each reader contact I8 is connected to the windings of ten code magnets, one in each reperforator, as has been previously observed. Hence,- when any pair of reader contacts |1-|8 is closed,` corresponding code magnets in ten reperforators are energized.

The select relays MFE-|44 control the selection of rep-erforators by connections shown in Fig. 8, as follows:

The windings of the select magnets |05 are shown connected to batteries |88, and also,

13 through various wires, to contacts of different groups of the select relays |40-|44. More specically, the winding of select magnet for the zero" reperforator is connected through wire |8| to xed contact |82 of select relay 14|. When the latter is energized, its movable contact |83 engages contact |82, connecting the latter to contact |84 of relay |40. However, no circuit is established through said magnet |05, unless relay |48 is also energized. When that takes place, a circuit is closed from .battery |80, through said magnet|85 for the zero reperforator, wire |8|, xed contact |82 and movable contact |83 of select relay |4|, contacts |84 and |85 of select relay |40, thence to ground and back to said battery |80. Said select magnet |05 for the zero reperforator is thus energized (as is likewise the companion magnet |05 for that reperforator if a pair thereof are employed), thus releasing the cross bar 96 which underlies the perforating arms 81 of said reperforator. At the same time, the code magnets 80 corresponding to the closed reader contacts |1|8 are released in all of the reperforators, but only in the zero reperforator will the perforating arms 81 be moved downwardly to reproduce on the tape 89 the code entry appearing on the reader tape 41.

Similarly, the select magnet |05 for the No. 1 reperforator is connected, through a wire |86, to a contact |81 of select relay |42. When this relay is energized, its movable contact |86 engages xed contact |81, but no current can flow through said select magnet for the No. 1 reperforator until select relay |4| is also energized so that its movable contact |89 engages contact |90.` In other words, energization of both relays |4| and |42 is essential to the selection of the No. 1 reperforator.

'The select magnet |05 for the No. 2 reperforator is connected through wire |8| to contact |92 of select relay |43. The movable contact |94 of that relay is in turn connected to fixed contact |95 of relay |42, which contact is engageable by movable contact |96. Hence the No. 2 reperforator will not be selected unless both relays |42 and |43 are energized.

Likewise, each of the remaining reperforators is selected only when a. certain combination of select relays is energized. The connections from the select magnets |05 for the ten reperforators :i

Select Relays Reperiorator No. Euergized 140 and 141.

140 and 142. 141 and 143. 142 and 144. 140 and 143. 141 and 144. 140 and 144.

Sorting of code entries The operation of the apparatus so far described may be illustrated by considering an example of code entries and the sorting thereof. For purposes of illustration, the following description 14 deals `with sorting of three-digit numbers only; it being understood, however, that the number of sorts is determined by the number of digits in the entries. For example, rive-digit numbers re quire five sorts; four-digit numbers require four sorts, etc. The sorting is done by channels or digital positions. That is, the rst sort is controlled by the units digit; the second sort by the tens digits, and so on. In order to sort in the units channel, the selector arm |62 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 8 wherein it engages the contact |63. In that position of the selector arm the select relays |40- |44 will respond only to the operation of contacts in the B or units channel. It may further be noted that in the code pattern employed for illustrative purposes.

the following combinations of reader contacts |1-|8 (counting from the left) in any of the banks B-F, correspond to the digits 0 9:

Pairs of Reader Contacts 17-18 code magnets in the hundreds channel.

l and 2. 2 and 3. 3 and 4. 4 and 5. l and 3. 2 and 4. 3 and 5. l and 4. 2 and 5. 1 and 5.

Thus, if the number represented by the code perforations engaged by the reader ngers is 210, the rst and second pairs of contacts |1|8 from the left in the units bank B are closed; also the second and third pairs of contacts |1|8 in the tens bank C, and the third and fourth pairs of contacts I"!-|8 in the hundreds bank D.

The closing of said pairs of reader contacts |1-|8 energizes, in each of the ten reperforators, the rst and second code magnets 60 in the units channel, the second and third code magnets in the tens channel, and the third and fourth At the same time, the closing of the rst (from the left) pair of reader contacts |1'|8' in bank B energizes the select relay |40, while the closing of the second (from the left) pair of reader contacts |1'-|8 in said bank B energizes the select relay |4|. As previously pointed out, the con, current energization of these relays results in energization of the select magnet |05 of the zero reperforator. Hence that reperforator is selected for operation, and its lever arms 81 that are released by the energized code magnets are moved downwardly to perforate the tape of that reperforator to reproduce the code designation of the number 210. None of the other reperforators is selected for operation at this time, since the only select relays energized when arm |62 engages contact |63 are those connected to reader contacts which are operated in the bank B; and the only select relaysso energized in the above example are the relays |40 and |4|. Hence only the zero reperforator is selected under these conditions.

Assume now that the next number on the reader tape is 762. In response to engagement of the reader fingers 46 with the code perforations corresponding to that number, the third and fourth pairs of contacts |1|8 are closed in bank B, the third and fifth in bank C, and the rst and fourth in bank D. Concurrently, the third and fourth pairs of contacts |1-|8 in bank B are closed, energizing the -select relays |42 and |43. The select magnet |05 of the No. 'fz/reperforator is thereby energized, so that only that reperforator will reproduce upon itsl tape lthe code entry corresponding to '762.

The Ithird number on the reader tape may be assumed to be, for example, 533. vEngagement of the reader fingers 46 with the perforations corresponding to that number will result inthe closing of the fourth and nfth pairs or contacts |`8 in bank B, the fourth and fth in bank Ci, and the second and fourth in bank D. At the same time, the Vvfourth and "fifth pairs of contacts l1- |8"n bank B are closed, energizing the select relays |43 land |44, so that the select magnet |05 of the No. 3 reperforator is energized. Hence only the No. 3 reperforatorfwill reproduce upon its` tape the code entry corresponding to 533.

Carrying the example further, it may be assumed that the following further numbers appear in code on the reader tape:

Carrying the operations through these numbers, the number `401 will appear in code on the tape of the No. 1 reperforator, 389 on the tape of the No. 9 reperforator, 894 on the tape of the No. 4 reperforator, and so on, the reperforator selected in each operation being that vcorresponding vReperforator Number 7 8 a Q l ai The next step is to sort under the control of the digits of tens order, for which vpurpose theselector arm |62 is engaged with contact |64, 4placing the selector relays U- |44 under the control of thecontacts l'll in bank C. It rhas been noted in the foregoing example that the numbers 210 and 510 appear in code on the tape of the zero reperforator; the numbers 401'and'82'1 on the ltape of the '.No. l reper'forator; rthe numbers 762 and 752 on the tape of the No. 2 reperforat'or, and soon. The individual reperforato-r tapes are now passed "consecutively through 'the reader,

that is, the tape of the zero reperforator isv passed through the reader first and is followed by the tapes .of the reperforators Nos. 1 9, inclusive.

Again, as each entry is run through the reader, a reperforator is selected to receive the reader entry, but now the reperforator selected is controlled bythe digit of the tens order in the entry on the reader tape. Consequently, in the foregoing example, the vreperforator entries will be as follows, after the entries previously appearing in the reperforator tapes have been run through the reader, starting with reperforator zero and ending. with' reperforator 9 z Since it has been elected, Vfor simplicity of description, to deal in the foregoing example with three-digit numbers only,I a thirdsort is the nal one. This third sort is done in accordance with the hundreds order digits, or those in the channel D. The `selector arm |62 is accordingly advanced into engagement with contact |65. Again the individual reperforator tapes obtained from the second sorting operation are passed through the reader consecutively. As a result of this third sort there are obtained ten new tapes. The numbers appearing in code on these tapes are as follows;

Reperforator Number lt'wi'll be seen that the foregoing numbers are no'W in numerical order and have been derived from the indiscriminately arranged numbers originally appearing on the reader tape.

Code checking mechanism Means are provided for preventing operation of the tape-stepping mechanism of the reader, and also of the 'selectedreper'foraton if more or lessi-than the proper numberV of reader lingers 46, in any of the banks B-F, enter perforations designating van entry inthe reader tape. `lis previously noted, the code system in connection with which the present invention is illustrated utilizes "two out of five perforation positions for each digit; i. e., each digit is represented by two perforations out of a fixed pattern of live. Hence, in that code system, two reader fingers in each bank of ve must enter perforations designating a code entry. If more or less than two fingers in any of the banks B-F enter perforations on the reader tape, the system is not operating properly. To check the code operation, we provide mechanism which may be constructed subn stantially as follows:

Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, each of the perforating levers 81 of each reperforator unit has a finger 81 projecting from an end thereof. For each bank f five of said perforating levers (corresponding to a respective one of the reader finger banks B-F) there is provided in each reperforator unit a reed bank 200, pivotally mounted on a rod 20| supported in the reperforator framework. As shown in Fig. 4, each reed bank 200 comprises five reeds 202 of resilient metal or other suitable material projecting from a block 203. Said reeds extend beneath the fingers 81 of the associated bank of ve perforator levers 81. In Fig. 2, only one of said reed banks 200 and associated set of five perforator levers are shown; for simplicity of illustration, the reed bank 200 and bank of perforator levers there illustrated being of tens order, corresponding to bank C of the reader contacts.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, each reed bank is integral with a lever 204 having a lateral projection 205 resting against a leaf spring 206.

'I'he latter normally maintains said lever and reed bank in the position shown in Fig. 3, with the reeds engaging the under surfaces of the ngers 81 of the associated perforator levers. The spring 206 carries contacts at its upper end for engagement with contacts 201 and 208, carried respectively by leaf springs 209 and 2|0. Normally, the contact 201 is in engagement with the corresponding contact on the spring 206, but the contact 208 is spaced lfrom the associated contact on said spring. A stop 2|| prevents spring 2 |0 from moving further towards spring 206.

If, now, only one of the adjacent bank -of perforator levers 82 moves downwardly, only one reed of the reed bank is depressed and lever 204 is turned clockwise, but not sunciently to bring spring 206 into engagement with contact 208. If more than two of said perforator levers are Aoperated, lever 204 is turned clockwise sufficiently not only to engage spring 200 with contact 208, but also to disengage said spring from contact 201. A stop 2|2 prevents spring 209 from following spring 206 through an extent corresponding to the turning of lever 206 by more than two perforator levers.

When, however, two perforator levers 82 in the group cooperating with reed bank 200 are depressed, the lever 204 is turned clockwise suinciently to engage spring 206 with contact 208,-V

without disengaging said spring from contact 201. Both of said contacts 201 and 208 are connected in series with the step magnet |26 of the reperforator, as well as the reader step magnet, so that said magnets cannot be energized unless both of said contacts are engaged simultaneously by the spring 206. It will, of course, be understood that a similar contact assembly is provided for operation by each of the other reed banks, and that the contacts 201 and 208 0f all of said assemblies are in series with each other and with the step magnet of the reperforator unit con- 18 taining said reed banks, as well as the reader step magnet, so thatl no current will flow through the windings of said magnets unless exactly two out of five perforator levers are operated in each of the banks B-i In Figs. 3A, 4, 4A, 4B and 4C we have shown an alternative contact arrangement for operation by each reed bank. In this arrangement, each reed bank is integral with a double lever 2|5-2 i6 having contacts 2I1-2I8 (Fig. 9) carried by its upper ends. Normally, the parts are maintained by a spring 2|@ in the position shown in Fig. 3A, with the reeds engaging the under surfaces of the fingers 81 of the corresponding perforator levers 81. ln this position the contacts 2|1-28 engage opposite faces of an insulator 220. |The latter forms part of an assembly comprising insulators 220 and 22| and a contact 222 interposed between said insulators.

When only one perforator lever 81, in the associated group of ve, is depressed the reed bank and connected levers 2|5-2I6 are moved to the position shown in Fig. 4A, wherein the contacts 2|1-2I8 have not yet been brought into engagement with contact 222. When two of said levers are depressed, the levers 2|5-2I6 of the associated reed bank are moved sufficiently to bring the contacts 2|`l2|8 into engagement with said contact 222, as shown in Fig. 4B. When more than two of said levers 81 are depressed, the levers 2|5-2I6 are moved to bring the contacts 2 |1--2 I8 beyond the Contact 222 into engagement with the insulating block 22|, as shown in Fig. 4C.

The five sets of contacts 2|1-2l8 are connected in series with each other, as shown in Fig. 9. They are also connected in series with the step magnet of the reader yas well as the step magnet of the reperforator unit containing said contacts, as indicated in Fig. 9, so that the tape stepping mechanisms of said reader and reperforator unit cannot be operated unless two out of five of the levers 81 in each of the ve banks of said reperforator unit have been depressed.

In the upper right-hand portion of Fig. 2 there is shown a reed bank having three reeds, operable by perforator levers controlled by the three reader lingers other than the twenty-live assigned to the five channels B-F referred to. As previously noted, these three extra reader fingers are used for certain control purposes, well understood in the art, and need not be discussed. It will be apparent that the reed bank consisting of the three reeds, engaged by perforator levers controlled by the three extra reader ngers above,

mentioned, may cooperate with a contact assembly (similar to those of Figs. 3 or 3A but closed upon depression of one of said levers) and connected in series with the five other reed bank contacts above described, as well as with the reader and reperforator step magnets. For the purposes of the present invention, however, said three-reed bank may be disregarded.

In Fig. 8, code check contacts associated with lever 81 of a reperforator are indicated diagram matically at 2|1 and 220, in series with the winding of the reader step magnet 69 by way of wires 225 and 226. It will be understood that in Fig. 8 the showing is simply diagrammatic, and that al five sets of code check contacts of the reperforator are in series with each other and with said step magnet as 4above explained. When the five sets of code check contacts in said reperforator unit are closed, current flows from battery 228 through said winding of step magnet 69, wire 226, wire 225, and the five sets of closed code contacts which contains said contacts, by-way of-'wires 225,

and 226, and certain contacts of areperforatcr checkrelay as 'will presently be described.

Checking of repeforator selection Connected in parallel with therespective reperforatorselect lmagnets 05 arereperforator check relays 23S), .so that whenever aselect-magnet |05 is energized the.corresponding-select relay 23|) lis also-energized. Each check-relay 235 hasa,pluralityof-movable contacts 23 l, .232, 233, cooperating with iiXed-contacts 234, 235,- and233, respectively, .Whenany offasaid check relays is deenergized, its contact 23| is in engagement with rlXed .contact 234,.while its contacts 232 and 233 are out of engagement with the respective fixed contacts 235 and 236.

Assuming, forexamplathat the select magnet |05 for Akthe. No.u 9. reperforatorisenergized, the check relay 230inparallelwith saidselect magnet is concurrently energized, separating its contact .23| from contact 234fand-engaging its-contacts `232 and: 233 lWith-the `respective contacts 235 and 236. v Current can now-flow from battery 23| through .thewinding of the steprmagnet |25 .of .ther No. 9 ,reperforaton `thence through 4rwire 238, Vcontactv 232.contacty 235, Wire 239, wire 240, wire 225, wire 225, the Icode contacts 220-2I|, to ground, and. thence backto said battery 231. It will thus be seen thatA said lstep magnet is energizedk when vsaid relayr230 is energized and the code checking contactsare closed. But if said relay 23B is not energizedor if any of the ve sets of code checkingcontacts inthe reperforator is open, the step magnet |26 of said reperforator cannot be. energized, Vand the reperforator tape will vnot be advanced.

' Similarly, noneof vthe other reperforator tapes can beadvancedunless the check relay for the particular reperforatoris energized vand the ve setsof codev checking `contacts in that reperforator are closed. Since each check relay is connected in parallel-with a corresponding one ofthe select magnets |05, no check Arel-ay'will-beenergized unlessthe proper-.connectionsfare established for Kenergizing.the:corresponding -select magnet.

The iixedY contact .236. of ieach check relayA is connected to a Vwire 24H whichinturn is connected to a wire 242 andcontact243. A grounded contact 244 cooperates with.a.cam245 onI the main drive shaft 35, and .isoperated by said cam in each cycle of operation. ofthe systemtoengage said contact 244 withcontact243: for aV substantial portion of the cycle, .thereby,maintaining a holding ycircuit closed .throughany energized check relay 230 by. wayof .the battery .connected to said relay,' the fmovable. contact1233, xed contact 236, and contacts.243-.244. .Said cam 245 and associated contacts insure energicaticn of the checkr relay until ,a denite time in the cycle, when said cam releases theeontact 243 from engagement with contact 2.44.

Further eheclc--insuringagainst improper operation of unselected reperforator unit 31 of the rocking4 frame. there illustrated diagrainmatically may `carrya lugA or projection 255 of insulating material, overlying the associated 25| as shown in Fig. 8.

' contact 2 50. As longas Y the --roekingframe isin the positionwherein it -islatchedby-'thearmature of the corresponding selectmagnet |05,- the contact`25l is out of engagement-with contact WhenI however,v said framerroclzs out of said position pursuant to venergization of said select magnet'l thev contact 250 is engaged with said Contactv 25 I.

The wire 253 is connected to `themovable contact 23| of the check relay 230 of thereperforator unit, while wire 252 is connected tothe winding of a battery cut-on relay 255. The latteris connected to a main battery'255 which-normally supplies current to all of the other batteries through contacts 251-255, as -is-well understood in the art.

Whenever the check relay 233 corresponding to any reperforator unit isenergizedftheseparation of its contact 23| from contactl 234l prevents the closing o a circuitv through the battery cuteo relay by closure of the'contacts 250,` 25| of the corresponding reperiorator unit. I.f,how ever, the rocking frame of any `reperforatorunit were to operate while the corresponding check relay is deenergized, the closure of the contacts 255-255 of that unit 'will cause current -to flow 'from battery 255 through the winding of cut-off relay 255, wire 252, contacts 253 and 25|, wire 253, contacts 23l 'and 234 of "the corresponding deenergized check relay 23,3, thence to'ground and back to said battery 256. The cut-off relay is thus energized, separating the contactsy 25`|- 25; and cutting oir the supply ofcurrent from batteryY 25E, whereby 'the'system is thrown out of action. At the same time, the cut-ofi"l relay 255 engages its grounded movablecontact 2BU-;with contactZEl, closing a holding circuitthrough said cut-ofi' relay. Said holding circuit may, if desired, include a light or bellto signal disrup- "tion of operation of `the system, asv will be apparent. kThe system will remain out of action iollowing energization of said relay 255 `until an attendant manually opens said holding circuit, after remedying the diiculty which caused the closure of `contacts 250, 25|'during deenergization of the corresponding check relay 23). Upon opening said holding circuit, relay 255isdeenergized and its contact 25'- returns into enga-gement with contact 258,with consequentresumption of supply of current to the system from the main supply battery 255.

As indicated in Fig. 8, the contacts 25|), 25| may be designated' as a unit check, since they provide a check against improper operation of an unselected reperforator unit. f, for instance, a reperiorator unit was properly selected for operation in one cycle, but the armature or" its vselect magnet should happen to stick in its oper- ,ated position despite deenergization ofsaid magnet, the rocking frame of said unit would operate in the next cycle owing to failuregof said armature to return to its latching position shown-in Fig. 6. Of course, if in the next cycle said'select magnet were energized, the operation of said reperforator unit would be proper; and since the corresponding check relay 235 is energized concurrently with said select magnet the `ensuing reperforator operation meets no interference. If, however, in said next cycle, said select magnet is not energized the operation of said 4reperorator unit is not intended; and, since 'the corresponding check relay is deenergized, vthe closing .of contacts 255, 25| by operation of 'the rocking frame of said unit causes operationof the battery cut-off relay 255 as described above.

Summary of checking operations From the foregoing description it will be seen that neither the reader tape nor the tape of a selected reperforator unitcan be advanced unless two out of ve perforator levers are operated in each of the five banks of' the selected reperforator unit. This is because the five sets of code checking contacts of said unit are in series with the reader step magnet 69 and are also in series with the step magnet |26 of said reperforator unit.

Furthermore, the step magnet |26 of any reperforator unit cannot be energized unless the corresponding reperforator check relay 230 is energized to close the contacts 232 and 235.

If any unselected reperforator unit operates, due for example to sticking of its select magnet amature in the unlatching position after operation in a preceding cycle, the battery cut-off relay is operated due to closing of the unit check contacts 250 and while the corresponding select relay 230 is deenergized. The entire system is thereby thrown out of operation, and, if desired, a warning signal is given.

If the armature of a reperforator select magnet |05 should stick in unoperated or latching position when said magnet is energized, the levers 81 of the selected reperforator unit cannot go down, and hence the code check contacts remain Current reducing provisions Since ten code magnets are deenergized through the opening of one pair of reader contacts |1-I 8, considerable arcing would take place if the full operating current were broken. To avoid this, a resistance 263 is inserted in series with the code magnets, to reduce the current to a hold value. Said resistance 263, as shown in Fig. 8, may be interposed between wires 264 and 266, comiected respectively to a movable contact 266 and a fixed contact 261. Wire 265 is also grounded as indicated. It will be understood that the wires |48 of all of the code magnets may be connected to the wire 264, as is the particular wire |48 illustrated in Fig. 8. A cam 268, rotatable with the main drive shaft 35, once in each cycle of operation of the system, controls the position of the contact 266 with respect to contact 261.

In the foregoing arrangement, the contacts 266 and 261 are closed at the start of the operating cycle, due` to engagement of contact 261 with a high portion of the cam 268. The resistance 263 is thus short-circuited, rendering the full operating current available for energization of any oi the code magnets in response to closing of lreader contacts |1-|8. After said code mag nets have been energized, a low portion of the cam 268 comes opposite the contact 266, and the latter withdraws from engagement with contact 261 (as shown in Fig. 8) so that current through the code magnets 86 must pass through the resistance 263. The current through said code magnets is thus reduced and is held reduced until after said magnets are deenergized. A high portion of cam 268 then returns contact 266 into engagement with contact 261, again short-circuiting the resistor 263 in preparation for energization of said code magnets in the succeeding cycle.

Summary of operation For convenience in following the sequence of operations in a complete cycle the chart shown in Fig. 7 may be noted, in connection with the schematic diagram of a reader, reperiorator unit, and associated circuit connections in Fig. 7A. In the example here illustrated, the time of a complete cycle is assumed to be 40 milliseconds. The sequence illustrated is as follows:

(l) As the cam 44 rotates, the reader fingers 46 enter the code perforations in the reader tape 41. As indicated in the rst line on the chart, this operation consumes 5 milliseconds. The fingers remain in the perforations for 25 milliseconds and are completely Withdrawn at the end of 35 milliseconds in the cycle.

(2) When the reader iingers complete their stroke, the corresponding reader contacts are closed during rotation of the cam 34. This takes another 5 milliseconds. Said contacts later start to open at 25 milliseconds from the start of the cycle (being thus closed for l5 milliseconds) and are fully opened at 30 milliseconds.

(3) As previously noted, the reader contacts have two functions: (a) to operate one of the select relays it-|44, and (b) to operate ten code magnets 8U, one in each reperforator unit. The operation of the select relay takes l0 milliseconds to close its contacts.

(e) The perforator check relay 236 corresponding to the selected reperforator unit is energized, commencing at 20 milliseconds from the beginning of the cycle. Its contacts close 5 milliseconds later.

(5) The perforator select magnet |65 corresponding to the selected reperforator unit is energized simultaneously with the above-mentioned check relay 236. Its operation takes 5 milliseconds to withdraw its latch from the rocking frame of the reperforator unit.

(6) The code magnets 80 in said reperforator unit corresponding to the operated reader con tacts are energized concurrently with the select relays. However, while each select relay takes 10 milliseconds (from l0 to 20 in the cycle) to close its contacts, the operation of the code magnets takes only 5 milliseconds (from 10 to l5 in the cycle) to withdraw the latches from the associated perforator arms.

(7) The current reducer cam 268 opens the contacts 266, 26'! at 15 milliseconds in the cycle and closes them at 35 milliseconds. Thus, when the reader contacts open, resistance 263 is in the circuit.

(8) The check relay hold cam 245 closes the contacts 243, 244 at l5 milliseconds and holds them closed until 35 milliseconds, at which time said contacts are opened. In the meantime, the select relays are deenergized at 25 milliseconds and their contacts are opened around. 3() milliseconds. The cam 245 insures deencrgizing of the check relay at a definite time in the cycle.

(9) The cams |0| (Figs. 2 and 7A) of the selected reperiorator release the rocking frame controlling the perforator levers 81, so that those levers 61 unlatched by energized code magnets effect perforation of the reperforator tape between 25 and 30 milliseconds in the cycle. Said cams restore said rocking frame and levers 61 to their normal elevated positions during the rst 5 milliseconds of the next cycle.

(10) During the downward movement of said reperforator rocking frame, in the period between 25 and 30 milliseconds aforementioned, the

unit contacts 250, 25| are closed. In case the assente reperforator containing said downwardly moving rocking frame has not been selected for operation its check relay 230 remains deenergized; and a circuit is thus closed, by way of said unit contacts and the contacts 23|, 234 of said check relay, through the battery cut-ofi relay 255. As previously described, this cuts orf the battery supply from the entire system and immediately stops further operation. The unit check contacts are opened in the first milliseconds .of the next cycle.

(ll) As previously noted, each bank of code check contacts operates properly only if two out of five perforator levers 8'! in the associated group are actuated to produce perforations in the correspending channel on the reperforatcr tape. Ii tivo out oi ve of said perforator levers move downwardly in each of the ve banks assigned to the channels B-l' the corresponding iive banks of code check contacts are operated to establish connections to the reader step magnet te, and to the reperforator step magnet l@ via contacts 232 and 2350i the check relay 23'@ as previously described. Said code .check contacts are closed the corresponding perforator levers move downwardly to eiiect perforation or" the reperiorator tape, in the period between 25 and milliseconds of the cycle; and they remain closed :for the remainder of the cycle. Said code check contacts are restored to open condition during the first 5 milliseconds of the ensuing cycle.

(12) The perforating of the selected reperforator tape, as well as closure of the unit checi; and the code check contacts have been completed at 30 milliseconds. dt this time the reperiorator step magnet l2$ and the reader step magnet til are energized. They complete their operation at milliseconds, In the case of the perforator step magnet, an interference finger i263 is interposed between the cam lever H9 and the step lever H3.

(i3) A 35 milliseconds, the periorator step cam liti commences to raise the pawl Ill with respect to ratchet wheel iid, through the interference finger 24 and step lever H3. Said raising of pay-vl is completed at milliseconds. In this operation the spring H5 is tensioned. At the end of the first 5 milliseconds 0i the next cycle, after the periorator levers 8l have cornpleted their stroke back to normal, the cam H8 permits said pawl, under the action of the spring H5, to move downwardly and to start stepping the ratchet wheel l Il? and tape drum 90 through one step, such stepping being completed at the end or" 2G milliseconds.

(lli) As previously mentioned, the reader step magnet te is energized at 30 milliseconds. Said magnet attracts its armature 6 8, removing it from its position (shown in Fig. 1) above the lug I2 on the arm 5l of the bell-.cranklever .55 which carries the pawl 52. Said removal of said armature 65 is completed within 5 milliseconds, or by the end of 35 milliseconds in the cycle.

(l5) iliuring the period from 35 to 40 milliseconds, the high portion of the cam 59 moves away from the roller 5S, permitting the bell-crank lever to be turned quickly clockwise by the spring Gd, with consequent rotation of the ratchet Wheel 5! and tape drum i8 by pawl 52 to advance the reader tape one step. This is completed by the end of the Lio millisecond cycle, at which time the magnet @t is deenergized. In the ensuing cycle, the cam 5t actuates the bell-crank lever 55 counter-clockwise, during the period between 10 and 25 milliseconds, retractingthe pawl 52 from the ratchet wheel into the position shown in Fig. 1, concurrently tensioning the spring 60.

What is claimed is:

l. In a.combined code sorting and reproducing mechanism for multidigit entries, the dirferent digits `of Awhich are each symbolized by a different pattern of perforations on a recording medrum,l a reading device comprising means adapted to cooperate with said perforations for sensing said entries, a plurality of reperiorators each having perforating elements and a plurality of latches, one for each perforating element, for normally holding said elements in inoperative position, each of said reperforators also having a controlling traine operable to control movement to vperforating position of those perforating elements whose latches are withdrawn, means normally preventing operation of said controlling frame, electromagnetic means controlled by said sensing means for withdrawing the latches from the periorating elements corresponding to the digital patternsof an entry sensed by said sensing means, and electromagnetic means for rendering operative the controlling frame Of a particular one of said reperf'orators in response to a digital pattern in one of the digital orders of said entry.

2. In a combined code sorting and reproducing mechanism for niultidigit entries, the different digits ol which are each symbolized by a different pattern of perforations oi a recording medium, a r ing device comprising means adapted to cooperate with said perforations for sensing f said entries, a plurality of reperforators each having perforating elements operable to reproduce the digital patterns of an entry sensed in said reading device, each of said reperiorators havingy electro-magnetic means for conditioning the perforating elements thereof for operation, and means for selecting a particular reperforator for operation in response to a digital pattern in one oi the digital orders of said entry, said selecting means comprising a plurality of relays operable under control of said sensing means in combinations corresponding to the digital patterns in said digital order of the reader entries.

3. In a combined code sorting and reproducinggmechanism for multidigit entries, the difierent digits of which are each symbolized by a diiferent pattern oi perforations of a recording medium, a reading device comprising means adapted to cooperate with'said perforations for sensing said entries, a plurality of reperiorators each having perforating elements operable to reproduce the digital patterns of an entry sensed in said reading device, each of said reperforators having electromagnetic means for conditioning the perforating elements thereof for operation, and means for selecting a particular reperiorator for operation in response to a digital pattern in one oi the digital orders of said entry, said selecting means comprising a plurality of relays operable 'under control of said sensing means in combinations corresponding to the digital patterns in said digital order or" the reader entries, and means for varying the digital order determinative of reperforator selection.

4. In combination, a code tape reader having means for advancing said tape, a reperforator having a plurality ofv periorating elements mounted on hammers, means controlled by said reader for selectively preparing a predetermined number of said hammers for operation, means for operating said hammers, and means con- 

